Question reference: S6W-26339
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 21 March 2024
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Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 April 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advances have been made in optometry services within primary care in the last five years, and what funding arrangements are in place to support at-home diagnostic and treatment services.
Answer
The Scottish Government is: rolling out a new Community Glaucoma Service, which supports eligible patients with lower risk glaucoma and treated ocular hypertension to be discharged from hospital and registered with accredited community optometrists; and delivering UK-leading changes to the undergraduate optometry degree model, which will enable students to graduate as Independent Prescriber optometrists.
In relation to at-home diagnostic and treatment services, community optometry practices that provide NHS eye examinations to eligible patients in a domiciliary setting receive a General Ophthalmic Services eye examination fee as well as an additional visiting fee.